Roger Wolfson – What You Should Know About Living on a Boat

So many people are taking different steps in their lives with regards to where they live and in the last couple of decades we have seen a great number of stories about individuals who have sold up and bought a boat to live on. This has not always been financially motivated of course, Roger Wolfson, the great American writer, famously spent 12 years living on a boat, sailing across the coasts of the USA. Roger did this to truly commit himself to his writing work and it is an experience which he still talks about today.

To anyone out there who wishes to follow this lifestyle choice, there are some things which you will first have to know.

Getting Handy

Although you are likely to get some professionals in for the big jobs, if you wish to live on a boat you are going to have to know your way around a tool set. There are all kinds of problems which will occur when you are on the boat, and when you are floating on the ocean or the canal, it is unlikely that you are going to be able to call in support. For this reason you will have to get handy and fix many issues on your own.

Culture Shock

The first couple of months of living on a boat is very difficult and there is a feeling in the body that this is temporary. Ultimately of course you do begin to get used to it, but there is certainly a level of adjustment which many people find to be incredibly difficult.

Where to Go

One of the biggest challenges of living on a boat is not so much taking it out on the water, but rather where to dock it when you want to be close to land. Marinas often have huge waiting lists and many other docks will charge you an arm and a leg to pitch up for the night, or longer. Before you embark on your boat adventure, it is critical that you have a clear idea of where you plan to keep the boat when you choose to moor up.

Personal Space

Should you decide to live with someone else on the boat then you had better be prepared to give up just about all of your personal space. Unless you area multi millionaire with eyes on a massive yacht, which of course most of us are not, then you will have to get ready for personal space invasion at the highest level. This can still be a great experience, but it is important that you go into this with your eyes wide open.

Living on a boat is great fun, it is the ultimate option with regards to freedom and in the future you will certainly look back at this as being one of the great experiences of your life. With this being said, you should know what to expect before going in.